In loving memory of Brian
>> Saturday, March 13, 2010 –
Plan A
Brian Hanly Leland
June 27, 1978 - March 14, 2000
It was 10 years ago today that we lost my brother Brian to a drunk driving accident. While we usually don't "celebrate" this day, I want to take a moment to remember him.
Brian was always a charmer (Caleb has his "aren't I too cute to be mad at" look). He had a face you just had to love. He was affectionate and loving and irritating and frustrating (he was my LITTLE brother after all). Brian and I fought all the time as kids but I have plenty of good memories as well. Watching "Anne of Green Gables" during college Christmas break every year and seeing him tear up when Matthew died - every year. Singing Broadway songs around the piano. When he tried to dye his hair blond at Bonclarken. The times he let me dress him up in old prom dresses and put make-up on him - or the times he would play Barbies with me and pull all their heads off.
Seriously though, we may have fought but we had that deep sibling bond. When I went to college Brian would call me at least once a week, just to talk. When he was living on his own he would call and I could hear other people there in the background, but he wanted to call and talk to his sister. No matter who was around, he would always say "I love you" at the end of our conversations.
I was always protective of Brian. I so wanted to protect him and keep him safe and hated when he got in trouble and would try and cover for him (not helping him I know). He would call me "Mom" to make me mad when he thought I was being too bossy - but I just wanted him to do the right thing.
He made some bad choices - ones that ended up with him drunk in a car with a drunk driver. I will always miss him deeply and wish I had had more than just 21 years with him. I wish he could have seen my kids - he would have been a great uncle!!
However as a believer, I trust in God's Perfect Plan. Some people get mad when you suggest that God's will includes anything tragic. With sin in the world - bad things happen. However from the beginning of time God has had his perfect plan - we only see a teeny tiny micro piece of this plan. He knew Brian was going to die - his death wasn't some freak accident that surprised God.
Brian's death was part of God's overall plan to bring glory to Himself. I don't know what reasons God had for taking Brian - I pray that one of his friends heard the Gospel at his funeral and became a believer. The reasons may never be known to me personally - but the comfort it brings to me and my family to know that Brian's death wasn't a meaningless accident has brought renewed faith in a God who is Lord over life AND death. People tell me that I'm laid back and optimistic - it's actually peace that I've been given since Brian's death. Peace that I don't have to worry about what is going to happen in my life or to my family or my kids - God knows. Resting in His Plan takes away all worry and fear - His Perfect Plan is perfect for me.
"Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! Let the earth hear his voice! Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! Let the people rejoice!"
(hymn we sang at Brian's funeral - a moment of joy and praise for my mom and me)
HORRIBLE picture of me but this picture is what I thought of the night Brian died. I got out of bed and Sam and I searched the entire house looking for this picture - Grandma found it months later at her house. I love how I am digging my fingers into his shoulder and you can tell by the look on his face that he is squeezing me way too tight!!
Dress up like a book character day at Camden Primary!!
Homemade Halloween costumes - I was 5 and Brian was 3!
If you knew Brian and have a memory or story or anything - leave a comment so others can remember too. (If you don't have a Google account just use the anonymous profile but make sure you put your name in the comment area!)
